JOSE GONZALEZ OPENS CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES SEASON WITH WIN IN GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 10, 2024) – In a matchup of two world champions, Jose Gonzalez knocked off Kris Thorne in the final round to win the season-opener in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ on Sunday as part of the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
It was the first of 10 races during the 2024 season and this weekend’s event was powered by FuelTech.
Gonzalez powered to his ninth career NHRA Pro Mod victory on Sunday, going a weekend-best 5.685-seconds at 253.23 mph in his Q80 Camaro to open his season on a strong note. To reach the final round for the 14th time after knocking off Dwayne Wolfe, Justin Bond and Jason Scruggs. In the finals against Thorne, Gonzalez dipped into the 5.60s and cruised into the victory after Thorne smoked the tires early. Gonzalez also won in Gainesville in 2021.
“It’s just hard work from the crew,” Gonzalez said. “We hadn’t made one run before we got to Gainesville and we really started behind the eight-ball. We got a break on the first run and then the car started to come around. It’s a team effort. I’m just the one driving the car and they’re doing the hard work.”
Thorne, who won the Gatornationals in 2022, defeated reigning world champion Mike Castellana, Mason Wright and Mike Thielen to reach the finals for the ninth overall time.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ returns to action April 5-7 as part of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. It marks the first time Pro Mod will race at the historic Phoenix track.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Jose Gonzalez; 2. Kris Thorne; 3. Mike Thielen; 4. Jason Scruggs; 5. Justin Bond; 6. Mason Wright; 7. Ken Quartuccio; 8. Tony Wilson; 9. Dwayne Wolfe; 10. Billy Banaka; 11. Lyle Barnett; 12. JR Gray Jr.; 13. Stan Shelton; 14. Kevin Rivenbark; 15. Mike Castellana; 16. Scott Wildgust.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sunday’s final results from the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
Pro Modified — Jose Gonzalez, Chevy Camaro, 5.685, 253.23 def. Kris Thorne, Camaro, 10.333, 80.64.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final round-by-round results from the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — Tony Wilson, Chevy, 6.288, 218.19 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 6.595, 212.46; Ken Quartuccio, Chevy Camaro, 5.703, 250.37 def. Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.774, 249.30; Mike Thielen, Camaro, 5.713, 246.17 def. Scott Wildgust, Camaro, 9.821, 90.03; Jason Scruggs, Camaro, 5.833, 247.79 def. Kevin Rivenbark, Mustang, 7.368, 143.03; Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.719, 249.07 def. Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.787, 246.26; Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 7.152, 152.83 def. Dwayne Wolfe, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.653, 251.67 def. JR Gray Jr., Camaro, 6.274, 243.77; Kris Thorne, Camaro, 5.768, 249.90 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 9.507, 93.70;
FINAL — Gonzalez, 5.685, 253.23 def. Thorne, 10.333, 80.64.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Point standings (top 10) following the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.
Pro Modified
1. Jose Gonzalez, 112; 2. Kris Thorne, 94; 3. Mike Thielen, 80; 4. Jason Scruggs, 77; 5. Justin Bond, 59; 6. Mason Wright, 55; 7. Ken Quartuccio, 54; 8. Tony Wilson, 53; 9. Dwayne Wolfe, 34; 10. (tie) Billy Banaka, 32; Mike Castellana, 32; Stan Shelton, 32.
Don Durbin from San Jose, California USA (Comp Number: 799) 1971 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TN, Class: AA/FD, Div: 7 "Nelson & Casatagino" Owned by Nelson & Casatagino from San Jose, California USA '70 Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Dale Armstrong from Torrance, California USA (Comp Number: 7003) 1976 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 7 "Dale Armstrong" Owned by Dale Armstrong from Torrance, California USA '73 Plymouth Satellite by Jaime Sarte | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Donovan Hemi by Dale Armstrong with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Gary Henderson from Memphis, Tennessee USA (Comp Number: 220) 1974 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 2 "Chrome Crankshafts Inc." Owned by T.B. Smallwood from Memphis, Tennessee USA '73 Chevrolet Vega by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 426 cubic inch Ed Pink Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Jimmy Taylor from Clinton, Tennessee USA (Comp Number: 865) 2025 - Category: PM-OUTLAW, Type: ZN, Class: Outlaw Pro Mod, Div: 2 "Xtreme Racing Engines" Owned by Jimmy Taylor from Clinton, Tennessee USA 1968 Chevrolet Camaro by Xtreme Race Cars | Powered by a 527 cubic inch Chevrolet Hemi by Xtreme Racing Engines with 4 speed […]
John Gazso from Roseville, California USA (Comp Number: 7792) 1975 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 7 "The Warlock" Owned by John Gazso from Roseville, California USA '72 Dodge Demon by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Donovan Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.730 […]
Steve Dana from Des Moines, Washington USA (Comp Number: 618) 1977 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 6 "Wildfire" Owned by Steve Dana & Zak from Des Moines, Washington USA '75 Chevrolet Vega by Woody Gilmore | Powered by a 501 cubic inch Chevrolet by Naiser Racing with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Steve Dana from Des Moines, Washington USA (Comp Number: 618) 1976 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 6 "Wildfire" Owned by Steve Dana & Zak from Des Moines, Washington USA '75 Chevrolet Vega by Woody Gilmore | Powered by a 501 cubic inch Chevrolet by Naiser Racing with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Steve Dana from Des Moines, Washington USA (Comp Number: 618) 1975 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 6 "Wildfire" Owned by Steve Dana & Zak from Des Moines, Washington USA '75 Chevrolet Vega by Woody Gilmore | Powered by a 501 cubic inch Chevrolet by Naiser Racing with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Jack Bradley from Evergreen, Colorado USA (Comp Number: 501) 1970 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 5 "Henchman/Bradley & Ward" Owned by Ward & Bradley from Evergreen, Colorado USA '70 Dodge Challenger by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Gene Conway from Inglewood, California USA (Comp Number: 749) 1968 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: Match Race, Div: 7 "C&O Destroyer" Owned by Gene Conway from Inglewood, California USA '67 Jeep by C&O | Powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.980 at Long Beach […]